Friday, April 29, 2011

While many of us may be watching the Royal Wedding, the American South East is picking up the pieces after yesterday's destructive storm that claimed nearly 300 lives. With so many consecutive natural disasters one might start questioning the life that one is leading. Life is fragile and precious, it can't be taken for granted. Do you take full advantage of your life or are you wasting it? Since I traded my banking career for an uncertain artistic path I feel my life has become more intense, more real and much more true to myself. I do my best to stay alert to live my life as best as I can. We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Finally! A week after arriving back in Amsterdam from my High Point Market adventure I found time to go back to the basics: painting....
First day at High Point I still felt insecure, falling back in to the habit of sellling myself short ("I am more of a decorative painter..."), but the positive feedback from designers, retailers and press made me feel confident. There is no shame in failing to be a "technical" briljant painter and "just" being a decorative painter. To speak with the fabulous artist-designer Sonia Delaunay "For me there is no gap between my painting and my so-called "decorative' work. I never considered the 'minor arts' to be artistically frustrating: on the contrary, it was an extension of my art." Sonia is one of my heroines. She brought her art in to the every day life and therefor closer to the people and that is exactly what I am striving for. Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic recently did a wonderful posting on Sonia as there is currently a "must see" exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design MuseumColor Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay. Dear Sonia, thank you for moving me, Mx.

Note: Did you know that Sonia has a connection with Amsterdam. In the 30s she designed textiles for Amsterdam Department Store Metz&Co!

Where to start? Just got back from my first US trade show. On the 31st of March I flew via New York to Charlotte. At the airport I teamed up with Eva Uribe Roepers of Interdecorations who continues to do a fabulous job as the exclusive distribitor of my products in the US. Next day we had to build up our 10ft by 10ft showroom at suites at Market Square, a historic warehouse. Our first US trade show, what an excitement and oh boy what a steep learning curve again! First day I was so nervous... How will my products be received? How many people will visit our modest showroom? Will we get orders? Now being back in Amsterdam I can reveal that I feel confident and happy. We had great response from designers, shops and media. First orders have been written, new store locations will be added and Home Accents Today featured 5 of my designs! What more can a girl want.... well, we are booked for the next High Point Market in October. Thank you designers, buyers, editors and High Point Market staff for giving us the fuel to continue building the Mariska Meijers Amsterdam brand in the US. And last but not least thank you Eva, without you I could not have pulled this off, we make a great team!